6.25.2007 - 06:18pm ET

(CSRwire) ATLANTA, GA. - June 25, 2007 – The Pearson Foundation today announced that the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is joining forces with the Digital Arts Alliance, the consortium that promotes digital arts in K-12 education through fully funded and staffed programs delivered directly to schools and community centers nationwide. The Pearson Foundation is the founding partner in the Digital Arts Alliance, and part of Pearson, the international education and information company.

The announcement was made at the opening of the annual National Educational Computing Conference (NECC).

Each year, the Digital Arts Alliance makes it possible for more than 15,000 students and their teachers to experience firsthand how laptop computers, video production equipment, and the latest mobile-phone technologies are changing the ways young people can organize, present, and share information and issues that matter to them. Alliance members believe that using technologies to enhance personal expression creates an expanded kind of literacy, often referred to as 21st Century literacy, that people - especially young people — already use in their everyday lives.

As part of this collaboration with the Digital Arts Alliance, ISTE will provide support, membership services, and learning materials for a new professional development initiative offered specifically to promote leadership in digital arts education: the Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Institute. Designed in conjunction with the Pearson Foundation, The Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Institute will recognize education teams introducing innovative digital arts projects across the United States, and provide additional leadership development specifically in the context of the new, National Education Technology Standards (NETS), which are being released at this year's NECC.

The Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Institute integrates key efforts of Digital Arts Alliance members. The initiative delivers to regional education leaders across the United States intensive, hands-on professional development sessions provided by the Mobile Learning Institute, which is sponsored by Nokia and the Pearson Foundation; extended, Internet-based coaching and mentoring from a network of ISTE’s national technology trainers; and additional resources and support from Adobe, Peachpit, and Pearson Education.

Institute participants — who will be recognized as Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Fellows — will receive this support while working in school- or district-based leadership teams. Beginning later this summer and continuing through the coming academic year, these leadership teams will build digital arts skills and share approaches to applying these skills for their own school’s advocacy and recruiting purposes. Leadership Fellows will also develop shared implementation plans for integrating digital arts programming in their school or district — plans that will serve as the foundation for continued online training and leadership development during the coming year.

"Digital Arts can be a powerful format for integrating technology and curriculum, and ISTE recognizes the work that all Digital Arts Alliance members are doing to support students and teachers," said ISTE CEO Don Knezek. "This approach highlights technology that is fundamental to the ways students want to communicate. Aligning the Digital Arts Alliance approach to the new NETS and aligning our trusted network of mentors and support services with the Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Institute will allow ISTE another way to be central to developing great new leaders in America’s schools and internationally."

Mark Nieker, president of the Pearson Foundation, added, "For today's young people, success in school and in life requires educational experiences that meet the challenges of our new century. In the Digital Arts Alliance, we strive to join with leaders in every aspect of this field to offer exceptional digital arts programs and to foster confident school leaders. For this reason, we're extremely pleased that Digital Arts Alliance members including Nokia, Peachpit, and the Pearson Foundation are joining forces with ISTE in support of this Leadership Institute. Having ISTE help establish and support the Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Institute is central to developing a new generation of school leaders who understand the power of digital arts in the classroom."

In the coming year, more than 100 Digital Arts Alliance Leadership Fellows will be invited to participate in regional Leadership Institute sessions across the United States. The program will be available to five regions during the 2007–08 academic year and will become available nationally in the 2008–09 academic year.

About the Pearson Foundation

The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson’s commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. The foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www.pearsonfoundation.org.

About the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the trusted source for professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership for innovation. A nonprofit membership organization, ISTE provides leadership and service to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Home of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), and the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), ISTE represents more than 85,000 professionals worldwide. We support our members with information, networking opportunities, and guidance as they face the challenge of transforming education. More information on ISTE can be found at www.iste.org.

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